Three Major Keywords Threatening Cybersecurity This Year: Virtual Currency, Dark Web, and Deepfake

Looking into the Police Agency's '2019 Cyber Threat Analysis Report'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police have identified virtual currency, the dark web, and deepfake as the key threats to domestic cybersecurity this year. All three are deeply connected to digital sex crimes that have sparked public outrage recently, such as the 'Telegram Nth Room' case.

The National Police Agency recently published the '2019 Cyber Threat Analysis Report' and selected these cyber threat factors to watch this year. Virtual currency is being exploited for various crimes due to its unique security features. Operators who produced and distributed sexual exploitation materials, such as those in the so-called Telegram 'Baksa Bang' (Doctor’s Room), also accepted payments in virtual currency when recruiting paid members. The report also warned that direct attacks on virtual currency exchange systems are increasing, and malware is being distributed to steal or mine virtual currency.

The dark web is a closed web accessible only through specific programs, which change internet addresses (IP) and encrypt communications, making tracking difficult. It is exploited as a channel for various crimes such as the distribution of child sexual exploitation materials, drug trafficking, illegal personal information trading, and hacking program transactions. As of August last year, the average daily number of dark web users in Korea reached 20,000.

Deepfake is a compound word of deep learning and fake, referring to synthetic videos and photos that appear real. Citing a Dutch security company, the report stated that as of September last year, 14,798 deepfake videos were found online, and 25% of deepfake victims were Korean celebrities. Such deepfakes can be used not only to produce pornography but also to generate fake news. The report emphasized, "Cybercrime can target anyone, but once damage occurs, recovery is very difficult, so prevention is crucial."